Milking Doe Grain Ration

[DAS]

Does anyone have an idea of how much feed (sweet mix--18% protein) I should give a Kinder doe who is nursing 2 month-old kids? ----on top of which I'll be milking her soon? Everything I read is for full sized goats -- anyone know how much a lactating Kinder should get?

Thanks -- Dina

oooops !

I should have added that she also has free access to grass hay & 1 lb alfalfa cubes 2xdaily

 

[cmjust0]

Advice on this is usually given in an "x-lbs of feed for x-lbs of milk" type of formula.. I've read different numbers on it, but the one our does seem to stick with (on their own...before they get kinda meh about their grain) is about 1lb of grain for every 3lbs of milk, or somewhere thereabout. The proverbial "gallon-a-day" milker, then, would be on about 3lbs of grain, given a gallon of milk weighs 8-9lbs.

Some need more to keep condition...some need less...some won't keep condition no matter how much you (try to) feed them...some won't lose condition no matter how much you cut them back.

Having said that...I guess I'd say start her on about 1lb of grain for every 3lbs (3 pints, roughly) she's producing. If she starts adding condition to the point that she's getting fat, cut her back and learn to milk faster. If she loses condition at that rate, steadily bump her up until she either stops losing condition or reaches a feed intake level with which you're not comfortable...like, pounds and pounds of feed...bloat/acidosis levels of feed, in other words.